Truck



Feb.' 14, 1939. C. M. AULT l 2,147,076

Byg 15M;

Attorneys Feb. 14, 1939. C; Mv AULT 2,147,076 l TRUCK Filed April '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A torneys Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT oFFlcE TRUCK Clifford M. Ault, Indianapolis,11ia.,' assignor of one-third to Frederick Minder, Lincoln, Nebr.

Application April 7, 1938, Serial No. 200,772

5 Claims. (Cl. 280-44) The present invention relates torneW and useful improvements in trucks to facilitate the handling of drums or barrels, boxes, crates and other comparatively he'a-.vy objects and has for its primaryv object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which'the load may be expeditiously lifted and lowered with a minimum of effort.

Other objects of thel invention are to provide a truck of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate V corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, showing the truck in use.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially triangular frame of suitable metal which is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The rear corner portion 2 of the frame I is supported on a conventional caste'r wheel 3. Journalled in the front corner portions 4 of the substantially triangular frame I is a transverse shaft 5. Pairs of arms 6 are Xed on the end portions of the shaft 5. Journalled between the pairs of arms 6 are wheels 'I which support the front of the frame I.

The reference numeral 9 designates a plate of suitable material, preferably metal, which is hingedly connected, as at I0, to the front portion I I of the frame I for swinging movement in a vertical plane. As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the'plate 9 is also substantially triangular and conforms to the upper portion of the frame I. When in lowered position the free rear end of the substantially triangular plate 9 is adapted to be supported on brackets I2 which are provided therefor in the. frame I.

Links I3 connect the arms to the hinged plate 9 for actuation thereby. In Fig. 3 of the drawings, the reference numeral I4 designates an oil drum of the usual form being loaded on the truck.

It is thought that the operation of the device Will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. When an oil drum, for example, is to be loaded on the truck, said drum is tipped to an inclination of approximately 25 degrees and as the truck is pushed therebeneath, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the vfront portion ofl the frame swings downwardly on the wheels lI, thus raising the plate 9 through the medium of the links I3. The drum I4 is then lowered onto the' frame I. When this is done the plate 9 is forced downwardly onto the frame I by the weight of the drum, thus swinging the wheels 1 downwardly through the medium of the links I3 thereby elevating the front of the truck with the drum thereon. Of course, when the drum is to be unloadedV the foregoing operation is substantially reversed. Although the device is intended for use particularly in the handling of drums, barrels, crates, etc., it may obviously be used for the handling of any other heavy objects for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

It is believed that the many advantages of a truck constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the-invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A truck comprising a frame, supporting wheels mounted for swinging movement on said frame, a plate constituting a base hingedly mounted on the frame and engageable beneath an object to be moved for actuation thereby, and means operatively connecting the swinging wheels to said plate for raising and lowering the frame when said plate is actuated. l

2. A truck comprising a frame, arms mounted for swinging movement on the frame, supporting wheels journalled on said arms, a plate constituting a base hingedly mounted for swinging movement on the frame and engageable beneath an object to be moved for actuation thereby, and links operatively connecting the arms to the plate for raising and lowering the frame when said plate is actuated on its hinges.

3. A truck comprising a frame, a shaft journalled on said frame, arms fixed on said shaft, supporting wheels journalled on the arms, a

plate constituting a base hingedly mounted on the frame and engageable beneath an object to be moved for actuation thereby, and means operatively connecting the arms to the plate for aotuation thereby for raising and ylowering the frame when said plate is actuated.

4. A truck comprising a substantially triangular frame, supporting wheels for a portion of the frame mounted for swinging movement thereon, a substantially triangular plate constituting a base hingedly mlounted on the frame and en* gageable and operable by an object to be moved on the truck, and means operatively connecting the supporting Wheels to said plate for actuation thereby for raising and lowering the frame when said plate is actuated.

moved, and links operatively connecting the arms to said plate for actuation thereby for raising and lowering the front portion of the frame when said plate is swung on its hinges.

CLIFFORD M. AULT. 

